How stable has your life been in the last ten years?

[Fllic]

Since the start of 2016 I have had one year where I lived in the same house and did the same job the whole year. And that year was 2021, so, you know, not the most stable of years, globally speaking.

It’s a bit nuts, looking back. I’m knackered.

Since 2016, I've lived alone with ds in the same lovely place. I've worked all the way through. Found ds a really good school. I was furloughed and then made redundant during covid. Treated for bc between 2021 & 2024. Seen ds happy & make a good job of his GCSEs.
So a few difficult moments but mostly a good decade. 😊

I’ve moved house 6 times
I’ve had 9 jobs
Children have attended 6 schools between them
My best friend of many years ditched me
Our immediate family’s health has been good
Ive stayed married - my main stability in my life, but this year will be 25 years and I’ll be very surprised if we make it - happily anyway.
My children have remained the light of my life

I've moved jobs 4 times and moved house twice. Dcs are just about grown now, with just the youngest at uni. My dad died in really traumatic circumstances. One of my dcs has really struggled with mental health issues but is doing OK at the moment. I've gone back to uni and am over halfway through my masters. Overall an upward trajectory and more stable the last few years. I've been in the same job for over 3 y which is a long time for me! I don't anticipate massive life changes on the next 10 years, which will take me to age 54. Of course, aging parents, unplanned tragedies and events that knock you off course can happen at any time, and I take nothing for granted.

Oh wow, I feel for you all. Such sadness and madness in your lives
So many young ones with cancer. I just hope you all have a better,happier healthy 🙏 New Year

I'm 37. Remained married, same house (rented), I changed careers, no more children (although 2 cats) I learnt to drive. Much more financially stable and travelled to an additional 14 countries. 10 years ago I decided to be a midwife and started an access course, since done a degree and qualified 6 years now but I was a student and work at the same trust. My weight has been the most unstable....Lost 5 stone, put on 8 stone, lost 6 stone, put on 2 stone...hoping 2026 I can get back to my smallest.

Well, obviously covid impacted everyone, one way or another. Some to a far greater extent than others.
But, aside from that, my life has been fairly stable. Obviously life evolves. We all lose people we love, and we have the pleasure that comes with new babies being born as the circle of life goes on. How closely affected you are by those major events depends how close you are - if it is you having the baby, it is life changing. If it is one of your dc having the baby, it changes a lot of dynamics in a family. If it is someone less close, then the impact is less. Same with bereavement - obviously losing your Mum, or your partner, or (fortunately unimaginable to most of us) your child, it is earth shattering, whereas a neighbour or colleague will usually have less of an impact.
On a personal level, I've had dc leave home, return home, move out again, get married, (other dc) break up with 'the one'. I've watched them graduate and begin on their careers, buy houses. I've retired. So some quite big events, but 'normal' or 'expected' events in the lives of people my age.

This is a massive achievement well done to you addiction is such a cruel thing
Congratulations and best wishes for 2026

Since 2019, I've ran a successful business from home, the same home I've lived in for 20 years.

The four years prior to that, I was sacked twice - once through lies and second because the liar chased me down and convinced my new employer it was true. I started a course that I was kicked off as the lies followed me there too. I worked for two agencies, therefore many many workplaces.

So a stable six years, after several horrific years.

Quite stable . Have lived in the same property which we purchased as cash buyers as we moved from the South East to the North West . We have healthy savings .
Only fly in the ointment is in the last few years we both now have a medical issue we both need to keep an eye on .

I’ve got engaged, married and then separated (nearly divorced).

Moved home (including counties) twice and will be three times next year

Changed jobs about ten times (partly as I’m a contractor and partly because of the pandemic).

Everyone is still alive though (other than an elderly grandparent).

Since 2016:

• had 2nd child to make a family of 4, added to our DD.
• 2020/21 weird era due to covid
• April 2022 my grandmother died and she was 92.
• relocated to a new area and moved house in 2022.
• my DH’s sister died suddenly.
• Jan 2024 got a new job in relocated are and left my previous job/ organisation where I had worked for 20 years. That was a big deal for me.
• July 2024 I graduated with my masters degree
• June 2025 my FIL died suddenly and we are really feeling his loss.

itd been a really mix of good and sad things that have happened. Next 10 years likely to be hard as my parents are getting older.

10 years ago …

DS2 had just started chemotherapy. The worst couple of years of our lives. He’s doing well now.

Weve moved house once

Lost FIL to the shit that was Covid

Fairly, still in the same house and marriage.

Work wise I got made redundant, took another job for 10 weeks and then moved to my current work place. However, since starting there in April 2021 I’m now on my 6th role and have gone up 2 pay grades. I am now in my perfect team and role with the opportunity to go up another pay grade in the new year (technically my 7th role within 5 years but it will be in the same team and doing a very similar job to what I do now).

The redundancy package was good though and it paid off all my debts (apart from mortgage and student loan) so financially I’m much more stable than I was 10 years ago.

Very unstable really when I think about it but actually all very content.

Found out about XH cheating and left him
Moved house 3 times
Changed job 3 times
Death of a parent
Married DH
Became empty nesters

Everything was very stable for years. The only thing that changed is that I went from very part time to full time, gradually.

Oh the last year though 😱

i went full time and took on a more demanding role which is really hard work juggling with home life
DH got burnout and has been off work since, plus he’s depressed
my sister had a work breakdown, resigned and walked away. She also moved miles away.
my MIL died
my FIL was diagnosed with dementia and needs carers
my oldest turned 18, decided he hates uni and wants to join the army

😱😱😱 I’m not expecting 2026 to be any less interesting. It’s like everything stayed the same for years… and now it isn’t.

Ten years ago I was with my ex DH and just about to be pregnant with my now 9 year old DS. I had the same job until 2019, and we moved once.

Since 2020 I have changed jobs, left the DH (abusive), set up home on my own as a single parent and then met my DP who I’ve been with two years and we moved house.

Job seems stable, house stable, DS seems stable but my mental health is shite due to perimenopause. I’d say 2021-2023 was the most ‘unstable’ of those periods (leaving ex, setting up home, navigating co parenting). Generally though since early 2023 it’s been stable(ish).

stable:
house
relationship
family situation

unstable:
finances
jobs
change of life plans

Overall pretty stable, although this year has been quite tumultuous. My mum died in February, my own health hasn’t been great- pretty severe gallbladder infection landed me in hospital in the summer, and my nephew had a serious illness requiring a stem cell transplant. I’ll be glad to see the back of 2025 that’s for sure.

This really made me smile this evening. Well done - you must be very proud of yourself 😊

Parental illness and subsequent death.
Close friend illness and death.
Divorce.
Remaining parent diagnosed with life limiting illness.
House sale during lockdown.
Moved in with remaining parent which was supposed to be short term, still there.
Parent now in decline.
Financial situation potentially precarious, need to work on it in 2026.

• Moved once (been in the same house now since 2017)
• Got married in 2016
• Changed career, then found my passion and changed career again.
• Got a brain tumour; career ended immediately 🤣
• Complete pivot and retraining again into a more flexible career I can do from home.

Last ten have been stable
same house(rented)
have changed jobs but it’s been intentional, climbing the ladder
same relationship

I did however lose my mum in that ten years
one of the children has emigrated
we are about to be made homeless as landlord is selling

Ten years ago I was working my first job, single and living at my parents house. Since then I met my partner, moved house three times, went abroad for the first time and then several more times, got married, lost my nan, changed jobs a few times, bought a puppy, had my daughter and got diagnosed with terminal cancer.

The last ten years took me from 19 to 29 though so lots of change to be expected. The next ten years would probably have been more stable but I doubt I'll still be alive then sadly.

Completely stable. Still living in the house we’ve been in 30 years, same jobs. Have had a few bereavements (parents, grandparents etc). That, thankfully has been the only blight on the time. We have been very fortunate to have good health and lots of stability for our children who have blossomed into hard working, good people.

I used to move a lot when younger plus change jobs.

These days I keep everything the same. Self employed ,15 years. Lived in the same mortgage free house for nearly 18 years.

I am 62. My son is 20 and he still lives with me.

I am done with chopping and changing!